Dispensing apparatus



SePt- 16, 1941. w. A. HARRIS 2,256,282

DISPENS ING APPARATUS 'Sept 16, 1941. w. A. HARRIS 2,256,282

DISPENS ING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 I' zoe' 1 JZ. .Uw I

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DISPENSING APPARATUS www Sept. 16, 1941. -w A; HANS l 2,256,282

DISPENS ING APPARATUS Filed sept. 9, 1938 '7 sheets-sheet 4 me/who@ I Sept. 16, 1941.

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DIsPENsING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 9, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 @www www Patented Sept. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE DISPENSING APPARATUS ville, S. C., as trustee Application September 9, 1938, Serial No. 229,183

(Cl. S12-4S) Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing apparatus.

An object of the invention is the provision of a machine for dispensing a single article or a plurality of articles in succession.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine for dispensing articles successively and the number of articles which are successively dispensed depending upon the amount of money deposited in the machine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine for dispensing any number of single articles upon taking the proper steps forv setting the machine in operation, means being provided for stopping the machine and locking it against further operation after the manipulator has obtained the number of articles to which he is entitled.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine for dispensing cigarettes or cigars, one by one, the number obtained depending upon the operator taking the proper steps, a plurality of cartons for the cigarettes or cigars of various brands having labels or revenue stamps exposed to View, provision being made to mutilate the revenue stamps applied to the packages of the cigarettes or cigars while at the same time providing a sight window to expose to View a plurality of the cigarettes or cigars.

A vstill further object of the invention is the provision of a machine for dispensing articles singly'and successively in which means is provided to prevent operation of those sections of the machine in which the cartons or chambers containing the articles have been removed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine for dispensing articles one by one and successively with means for preventing full or partial actuation of the dispensing apparatus before the machine has been set in operation by a coin of proper denomination.

Another object of the invention isvthe provision of a machine for dispensing articles one by one by the insertion of a proper coin, the articles being enclosed within containers forming the magazine, said magazine having means for engagement with an element of the machine4 which when so engaged will set said elements of the machine in position for dispensing articles from the container when the machine is properly operated.

Another vobject of the invention is the provision of a machine for dispensing articles one by one in which a plurality of magazines are placed in juxtaposition from which the articles are dispensed with means for preventing the `discharge of more than one article from the various magazines when two or more levers which actuate the dispensing means are attempted to be actuated simultaneously.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following `detailed descrip-v I along the line 3-3 of Figure l.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken along the lines 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of an actuating plate which controls mechanism for dispensing of one article or a number of articles in succession.

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken along the line 6 6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken along the line 1 1 of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a view in perspective of the dispensing element per se. Y

Figure 9 is a View in perspective of a device for holding the articles in position from discharge when the lowerrnost article is being dispensed.

Figure 10 is a horizontal section taken along the line VI U-l D of Figure 2.

Figure 11 is a vertical section taken along the line lI-ll of Figure 10. Y

Figure 12 is a view in perspective of a locking plate shown in Figures 10 and l1.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section of the counter of the device for counting the number of articles dispensed.

Figure 14 is a vertical section taken along the Aline I4--l4 of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a view in elevation of the counter.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary side or end view of the dispensing apparatus showing the parts in operative position for consecutively dispensing the articles.

Figure 17 is a vertical section taken along the une n-n of Figure 1c.

Figure 18 is an end view of the machine, similar to that shown in Figure 16, showing the parts in an inoperative position.

Figure 19 is an end view opposite to that shown in Figures 16 to 18, inclusive, with the parts in the position to be actuated for dispensing only one article.

Figure 20 is a view in perspective of the dispensing machine as shown assembled with the casing thereon.

Figure 21 is a vertical section taken along the line 2l-2I of Figure 18.

Referring more particularly to the drawings (Fig. 2) 25 and 25 designate L-shaped base members to which are connected respectively the right angle brackets 2 and 2B, at the rear of the machine. To the tops of the brackets 21 and 28 are secured two plates 29 and 3l between which are located .a pair of spacing strips 3U (Figs. and 11). A pair of upstanding brackets 32 and 39 are secured to the opposite ends of said plates. A pair of side plates 34 and 35 are respectively secured to the brackets 32 and 33. These side plates depend from the opposite ends of a table 35 which is horizontally disposed and has a depending apron 3'! which is spaced inwardly from the front end of the machine as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

A rectangularly shaped member 38, shown more particularly in Figure 4, is composed of a front bar 39, a rear bar 49 and side bars 4l and 42 which are secured to the side plates 34 and 35. This rectangularly shaped member' is supported at its front end by means of legs 43 and 44 which are secured to the base members 25 and 25. The member 38 provides means for supporting certain shafts to be presently explained.

A back plate 45 has a flange 45 at its lower end which is secured to the rear end of the table 36. 41 (Fig. 1) which are secured at their upper ends to the back plate 45, while the lower ends are secured to the table.

The table 36 is provided with a plurality oi openings 4B (Fig. 6) through which the articles are adapted to be dispensed. The articles in this case are shown at 49d as cigarettes, although it will be appreciated that any kind of dispensable article may be sold by this machine. The openings 48 extend transversely of the table and are f of sunicient length and width to permit the article to be freely discharged through said openings. A plurality of smaller openings 49 are located adjacently to the transverse openings 48 for a purpose which will be presently explained.

A plurality of upstanding plates 58 and 5| are located along the edges of the openings 48 and are adapted to guide the cigarettes downwardly from the open end 52 of a carton 53 (Fig. 1). It will be noted that the lower end of each carton rests upon the upper edges of the plates 50 and 5I and is supported thereby. To the plates 50 and 5I are respectively secured thinner plates 54 and 55. The upper ends of the last mentioned plates are flared outwardly as shown at 55 to permit the ready insertion of the lower end of the carton onto the upper edges of the plates 5! and 52. The plate 55 isprovided with an opening 5? which is alined with an opening 58 in the plate 52` for a purpose which will be presently explained. The plates 54 and 55 are respectively provided with angular portions 59 and 68 which lare secured to the table 35 and since the plates 54 and 55 are secured respectively to The front of the plate is braced by bars L the plates 5G and 5I, the last mentioned plates are supported in spaced vertical position on said table. The angular portions E8 are formed with openings 6l which aline with the openings 49 in the table 35.

A plurality of U-sliaped clips 62 are secured to the back plate in spaced relation and are adapted to receive the rear portion adjacent the upper end of the cartons 53 for aiding in maintaining the cartons in position.

At the front end of each carton is located a ringer 53 carried by a pivoted arm 64 and the ringer 63 is forced against the front of the carton by means of the spring which exerts a pull on the arm 64 at all times. The spring is so positioned with respect to the arm 54 that when the arm is swung downwardly and away from the carton and when it is desired to remove the carton the spring will maintain the arm in its lowered position.

The cartons are further aided in being maintained in their vertical position by pairs of spaced casings 65 which contain counters for indicating the number of cigarettes or articles remaining in each magazine or container 53. The mechanism for counting the cigarettes as they are dispensed from each container or magazine will be presently explained.

Each carton 53 at its rear end is provided with vwall 45 for a purpose which will be presently explained. The front wall of the carton is provided with the usual labels for indicating the brand of the cigarettes or cigars or other articles which are dispensed, and these labels together with their indicia will appear through the v transparent window 59 formed `at the front of the outer casing 15. The stamp shown at 'H and which is mutilated by the removal of a portion of the lower front end wall of the carton or 4magazine also appears through the window 59.

Thus, it will be seen that at least iive or six of the articles can be seen through the window 59 below and at the bottom of the magazine at all times. The containers for certain types of merchandise such as cigarettes or cigars where stamps are required to be placed upon the carton when they are sold and where thestamp must be mutilated when the carton is opened will have the lower front ends of the carton provided with a removable perforated portion not only for showing the articles in the carton, but for causing mutilation of the stamp. The carton employed in this machine is described and claimed in a separate application filed September 9, 1938, Serial No. 229,186.

A dispensing bar 'l2 (Figs. 6 and 7) has depending legs 13 and 14 which have openings 15 to receive a shaft 16 that is mounted in bearings` formed in the bars 39 and 49 of the rectangularly shaped member 38. Depending levers 'i1 are located exteriorly of the outer casing 'l0 where the shafts 'I6 project therethrough. Each dispensing bar 'l2 normally is located in a closing relation with its opening 48 in the table 86 and is maintained in position by means of springs 18 located at the rear of the back plate 45 as shown in Figure 2. Each spring is connected at its lower end in an opening T9 formed in an angularly disposed finger 89 which projects outwardly from the legs '14(Fig. 8). The upper end of each spring, as shown in Figure '2, is connected to a guide 82 of the pair of guides 8| and 82. These guide members eachhave anges 83 which are secured to the rear face of the back plate 45.

The front leg 13 depending from the bar 12 is provided with aiinger 84 which is adapted to engage a depressible plate 85 (Fig. 5) which is secured to a shaft 86, and the ends of this shaft are mounted in bearings carried by the side bars 4| and 42 of the rectangular frame 38. One end of thenplate 85 is provided with a lip 81 to which one end of a spring 88 is connected. The other end of the spring is connected to a bracket 89 which is secured to the side bar 42 (Fig. 4). Said plate 85 is also provided with a rear extension r90 which has a lip 9| provided with a bolt 92 to which one end of a spring 90a is connected, the other end of the spring being connected to a crank arm 94 which operates a shaft 95 of a counting mechanism 961er indieating the number of cigarettes which are dispensed from the machine regardless of the brand of cigarette or article.

A plate 91 is provided with perforated lips 98 to receive a shaft 16. Each plate 91 is provided with detaining fingers designated by the numeral 99 (Fig. 9). Each finger has a V- shaped portion which is adapted to be inserted between the lowermost pair of cigarettes for holding the cigarettes or articles within the magazine while the lowermost article is being dispensed. These fingers project throughv the alined openings 49 and 6| respectively, formed in the table 36, and the base members 66 of the vertically disposed plates 55 (Fig. 6). The V-shaped members |00 of these fingers are adapted to be projected through the alined openings 51 and 58 respectively, in the plates 55 and 56 when a cigarette or other article is being dispensed from the machine.

It will be noted from Figures 4 and 6 that a spring |0| isrcoiled about the shaft 16 and has one end |02 engaged over the rear bar 40, while the other end of the spring as shown at |03, is engaged over the top edge of the plate 91. Thus, it will be seen that when one of the levers 11 is rocked in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1 the dispensing bar 12 will be moved away from its respective opening in the table 36, but the pair of V-shaped members |00 will be forced between a pair of the articles before the bar 12 has been completely removed from its respective opening whereby the remaining articles in the magazine will be held against discharge while one article is being discharged.

The machine is coin controlled so that when the operator of the machine places a coin of a certain denomination in the slot |04 (Fig. 20) it will pass down through channels formed in the fraud detecting unit |05 which forms no part of the present invention and be discharged into a chute |06 which has a sight opening |01 where it will engage the free end |08 of a lever |09 because of the fact that the free end of the lever as shown in Figure 18 projects into the bottom of the chute |86.

The chute |06 has a back plate (Figs. 2 and 4) which is spaced outwardly from theside bar 42 of the frame 38 and is of sumcient dimensions to support other mechanism which willbe presently described. This backr plate is connected by means of brackets and bolts ||2V Iinger |21 vengageable beneath a pivoted lever |28 (Fig. 19) which when depressed by meansv of theiinger |29 connected to an arm |30 which |09- is pvotajlly mounted'on an axle H4 carried bythe back plate ||0 and is provided with a weighted portion ||5 which tends at all times to raise the free end |08 when a pin ||6 has beenv released from a notch ||1l of a latch ||8 which is pivotally mounted at I |9 on the plate Ill?. i

A iinger |20 is rigidly connected with the weightedv portion ||4 of the lever |09 and this linger engages av crank arm |2| which is connected with a release rod |22 (Fig. 4). The crank arm is pivoted at |23 yin the side bar 42 of the frame `38. The; release rod |22 is further provided with a crank arm |24 which has a bearing at|25in the side bar 4|. This` crank arm is provided with an extension |26` which has a in, turn is connected with a lever |3|, will cause the lever |28 to be moved to the lowermost dotted line position shown in Fig. 20. The lever 3| is connected to the rock shaft 86 which is oscillated when any one of the levers 11 are rocked.v

The release rod |22 is located b eneatha plurality of pins |35 which project laterally from each of the pawls |36. These pawls are pivoted at |31 (Fig. 7) on the front bar 39 of the frame 38 (Fig. 4). The free ends of the pawls restupon discs |38 which are secured to the shafts 16 with the free ends of the pawls normally engaging notches |39 formed in said discs.

Each discis provided witha second notch |40 and a plurality of teeth |4|. The teeth are adapted to be engaged byV a gravity actuated pawl |42, while the notch |40 is adapted to receive a finger |43. Associated with the linger |43 is a toe |44 which is adapted to strike the pawl |42 and move it out of engagement with the teeth |4| 'when the finger |43 engages a shoulder |45 of the notch |40. Whenthe levers 11 are released and the shafts 16 are likewise, dueto the action of one of the springs 18, the disc |38 is rotated in a direction which is reverse of the direction indicated'by the arrow 'shown in Fig. 7, and the finger |43 will be engaged with the shoulder |48'of'the notch |40 so that the linger will be rocked and the toe |44 will be moved away from the pawl |42 whereby the pawl |42 will-fall by gravity into engagement with the teeth |4| of thejdisc |38.

It will be seen by this construction that the shafts 16 and likewise the levers 11 are pre-r Vented` from being rocked until the pawls |36V are released from the notches |39 in the' discs |38. The pawls |42 are pivoted at |50 on the front bar 39 of the frame 38 while the fingers |43 are pivoted at |5| on said bar. The pawls |42 prevent the operator from reversely rotating vthe shafts 16 and likewise the dispensing bars 12 in the opposite direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6 so that a cigarette or other and prevent further actuation of the machineA for dispensing purposes as will be more particularlyV explained hereafter.

When the rock plate is operated by any one of the members 84, it will rock the shaft 86 and likewise a lever |52 (Figs. 3 and 4) an oscillating link |53, a lever |54, and a shaft |55 which is connected to said lever. The shaft |55 has a bearing in the plate and extends through said plate, and a lever |56 (Fig. 18) is connected to the shaft exteriorly of said plate. A reciprocating rod |60 is pivotally connected at |6| with the free end of the lever |56. This lever is lifted in conjunction with the lever |09 by means of a finger |62 which is carried by an arm |63 rigidly attached to the lever |09. is provided with a weight |64 which tends to raise the free end |65 of the rod |60. Said rod is provided with a pawl |66 which is adapted to engage a tooth of a ratchet wheel |61 which is secured to a shaft |68 and the shaftvin turn is mounted in bearings carried by the plate ||0.

A coil spring (Fig. 21) has one endV connected to the shaft |68, while the other end |1| is connected to a fixed part of the frame so that when the shaft |68, and likewise the ratchet wheel |61 are rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 18, said coil spring will be wound up whereby when the ratchet wheel is released it will move back to its normal inoperative position. Y

The ratchet wheel is provided with a pin |12 projecting laterally from its face, and a second pin |13 which is longer than the pin |12 also projects laterally from the face. The vlong pin forms a double function in that when the ratchet wheel |61 is released and is returned to its normal position as shown in Figure 18 it will engage a stop arm |14 and retain the ratchet Wheel against further reverse rotation.

The plate 0 is provided with a dial |15 which is supplied with numerals and indentations |16 toV receive a projection |11 formed on the arm |14. This arm, as will be presently explained, is adapted to be lifted so that the projection |11 will drop into the depressions |16 for holding the arm in a predetermined position and for determining the number .of articles to be dispensed from the machine when a coin of a predetermined denomination is placed within the machine. A retaining pawl |80 is pivotally mounted at |8| on the plate ||0 and is provided with a weight |82 adapted to cause the free end |83 to be elevated when released by the teeth of the ratchet wheel |61. The free end |83 of the pawl |80 is received by a sling in the form of an arm |84 which has a laterally disposed finger |85 which is adapted to engage the free end |83 of the pawl |80 for raising the same when the rod |60 is elevated.

The member I I8 (Figs. 16, 18) is provided with an angularly disposed arm |96 which has a laterally bent finger |81 located adjacent the outer end of the reciprocating rod |60 when the pin ||6 is engaged beneath the shoulder ||1 formed in the member I8. The weight of the rod |60 per se is slightly greater than the Weight |64 so that the rod will tend to pull downwardly and place the pawl |66 into engagement with the tooth of the ratchet wheel |61. The member |64 acts as an aid when the lever |09 raises the coin drops into the chute it will fall downwardly and rest upon the finger |9| until the lever |90 is moved outwardly and the finger is'y moved from the window- |01. This finger remains in this position until all of the articles are dispensed to which the operator is entitled. When the partsvare released and the machine is closed for further operation and just before the ratchet wheel |61 is released for return to its normal inoperative position the long pin |13 will engage a lip |92 which is rigidly secured to a shaftA |93 to which the lower end of the lever |90 is secured and elevated thereby rocking the lever |90 outwardly until it engages a stop |94 carried bythe chute |06. The finger |9| vis then moved outwardly as shown in Fig. 2 from the chute |06 so that if a coin is located within the chute and resting on the lip |9| it will be discharged downwardly so that it can engage the free end of the lever |99 and depress said lever.

An arm |96 (Fig. 16) projects laterally from the lever |90 and is in a position to be engaged by the free end |08 of arm |09 and rock the lever inwardly so that the linger |9| will move into the window |01 of the chute |06 and be in 4 a position to retain a succeeding coin out of engagement with the lever |09 until all of the articles which should have been discharged are dispensed. c

A spring |91 engages the free end of the shaft |93 forrresisting rotation of the shaft so that the shaft and the lever |90 will retain itsvarious positions when operated. 7

Referring more particularly to Figs.'2, 4,10 and 11, it will be seen that the spring-actuated levers have pivotally mounted thereon depending fingers 200 which hang freely therefrom and each finger is provided with a pin 20| rigidly secured to Said finger. The pins extend upon opposite sides of the finger for engagement with the top plate 3| (Fig. 2) to limit the downward movement of the fingers.

"openings or passages 203 so that only one of the fingers can be moved downwardly at a time. Since the levers 80 (Fig. 8) are rigidly connected with the dispensing bars 12 it will be seen that when a finger 200 is projecting downwardly it across the openings 203 to prevent the rest of the fingers 200 from being lowered and prevent likewise the operation of therernainng levers.

An oscillating pawl 2 l 0 is located adjacent each counter casing 66 (Figs. 1 and 3) and at the rear of the plate 45. The upper end of each pawl is guided by the members 8| and 82 while the lower end ispivotally connected by means ,of a pin 201 mounted in a perforation 2| l formed in the lever 80 (Figs. 2 and 8). The free ends 2|2 of the pawls 2|0 are shown in Figs. 3 and v13 and are adapted to engage teeth 2|3 of a wheel 214 which is provided with` a circular dial 2|5 having numerals 2|6.

rihe fingers at the lower ends are reduced as shown at 202 and these A retaining pawl 211 is pivoted at 2|8 and a coil spring 2|8 is wrapped around the pivot of the pawl 2| 1 and has one end 22D engaging over said pawl while the other end 22| engages over the outer edge of the pawl 2|0 so that these pawls will be flexibly retained in engagement with the teeth of the wheel 2I4.

As shown more particularly in Figure 1, each of the casings 66 is provided with a window 222 through which the numerals 2|6 are adapted to l. appear. Since the cartons in this case contain. 10

'lifty cigarettes when the machine is filled the numeral 50 will appear and as the wheel 2|4 is rotated by the pawl 2|!) numerals from 50 to 1 will then appear until the magazine is empty when it will show 0 and further operation of the dial associated with the empty carton will be prevented as will be presently explained.

A series of bars (Figs. 2 and 3) as indicated by the numeral 230 are pivotally mounted at 23| at their upper ends between a pair of ears 232 secured in spaced relation to the back plate 45. A spring 233 coiled upon each pin 23| has a free end 234 engaging over each pivoted bar 238 tending to maintain said bar inwardly toward the back plate 45. engage said back plate. The lower end of each bar projects through a slot 235 formed in the rear end of the table 36 and the flange 46 and when so positioned it will be in the path of movement of the dispensing bar 12 so that said bar will engage the free end of the pivoted bar and prevent actuation of the lever 11 and actuation of the dispensing bar 12? unless a carton of cigarettes has been placed within the machine.

When a carton has been placed within the machine the laterally disposed member 61 on the back of the carton passes through the perforation 68 in the rear wall 45 and will contact the stop bar 238 and force said bar outwardly v so that the free end of said bar will be moved out of the slot 235 in the table 36 and away from the path of movement of a dispensing bar 12.

A crank 236 is pivotally supported by the back 45 and has an operating arm 231 adapted to be manually manipulated whereby the crank may be forced outwardly from the plate 45 to engage all of the stop bars 235 and move them to an inoperative position and out of the path of the rockable dispensing bars 12. This crank may be utilized for moving the bar outwardly when inserting a carton or magazine of articles, or at any other time when it is desired to actuate the lever 11 for some particular purpose, and when a magazine has not been placed in operative relation with a particular lever or levers.

The mechanism described above is adapted to be set in operation by coins of higher denomination than a cent so that in the case of cigarettes, more than one cigarette will be delivered to the operator when he has deposited the proper coin in the slot |24. On the other hand, when a cent is deposited in the slot 242 (Fig. 20) the mechanism on the left hand side of the machine is set in operation to deliver one cigarette when one of the levers 11 is operated. However, when one of these levers is operated once the machine is stopped from further operation.

Referring more particularly to Figure 19, it will be seen that a fraud detecting device 24| is secured to the upper portion of the back plate 45 so that when the cent has passed through the detecting device it will be deposited into a chute lowered andas has been previously stated itvwill The other ends of the springs press downwardly upon the finger |21 lof the releasing rod |22 and thereby elevate said releasing rod. When this rod is released it will raise the pins |35 (Fig. '7) and likewise the pawls |36 out of engagement with the notches in the discs |38 whereby any one of the levers 11 may be rocked to discharge one cigarette from a container or magazine.

Since there is no device at the left hand side of the machine for permitting more than one cigarette to be discharged, the lever |28 will be raised immediately upon the return of thelever 11 and further operation of the machine can only be had by depositing another cent. The lever |28 is provided with a weight 244 which will cause said lever to raise immediately after .the cent ,has been discharged from the free end thereof. A guide 245 is provided adjacent the free end of the lever |28 for maintaining it in proper position so that it will move upwardly within the chute so that it can be engaged by the cent 246. l

Referring more particularly to Figure 20, it will be seen that a door 25|) is provided with a hand grip 25| so that the door may be raised to obtain` the cigarettes or other articles which have been dropped and moved toward the front by means of a chute 252.

The operation of my device'is as follows: The stop 14 (Figs. 16 and 18) is moved to the desired notch, and in this instance it is shown as being located at 5 .so that when a nickel is dropped into the slot |84 it will fall downwardly and engage the free end |88 of thelever 09 (Fig. 18) which is shown in raised position and thereby depress said lever until the pin IIS on the lever will engage beneath the shoulder ||1 on the swingable member H8. At this time the nickel will roll outwardly into the usual coin depository provided for the purpose. The device is now in position to be operated by one of the levers 11. If on the other hand, the customer desireseto obtain a cigarette of live diierent brands he may voperate each lever in succession until the ve cigarettes have been dispensed.

When the lever |69 is lowered by the nickel the member |28 will be rocked under the free arm |2| of the releasing rod |22 andthe crank arm |2| will be elevated as will be the releasing rod so that all of the pawls |36 will be raised out of engagement with the notches in the discs |38 and all of the Vlevers 11 will be free for operation.

When a lever is rocked one of the dispensing bars 12 (Fig. 6) which is associated with said lever will be moved away from an opening 48 to release a cigarette while a linger |00 will engage the next uppermost cigarette and hold the cigarette from being dispensed.

The rocking of the lever 11 will cause the lever |52, the oscillating link |53 and the lever |54 rFig. 3) to be actuated so that the lever |56 (Figs. 16 and 18) will likewise be rocked to move the bar |68 to the right whereupon the pawl |66 which is in engagement with a tooth of the ratchet wheel |61 will rotate the ratchet wheel one step. Since the pawl |88 is also in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel it will prevent the reverse rotation of the ratchet wheel by the spring |10. The ratchet wheel, however, may be operated through five steps due to the fact that the pin |13 is in engagement with the stop |14 which is maintained at vnumber 5 on the dial (Fig. 18). t

When the pin |12 which is moving through an ydiei 2 :5.

arc of Va circle raisesY one edge of the v`pivoted member I I 8 it 'will kick said member to the right and release `thepin H6 from the shoulder I |'I whereby the lever IG'I will be elevated. At the same time the iinger |62 on the member |53 pulls up-on the rod |60 and since the pawl |80 has asloose connection with the rod |63 it will also be raised whereby the ratchet wheel |61 will be released and the spring will return the ratchet wheel until the pin |13 again contacts the stop I'III.

When the long pin |13 is rotated through an arc of a circle sufficiently to contact the lip |92 ,it will raise the lip and throw the lever |93 outwardly until it engages the stop |94. The lever |534) is moved outwardly to permit another coin to pass through the chute |86 and again engage the free end of the lever |99 for lowering it and placing-the pin IE6 again beneath the shoulder I II of the gravity actuated member I8.

4jform'er operator failed to get. However, the new operator can operate the lever not only the number of times which the former operator failed to do, but can operate the lever the number of times which he is entitled to and thus obtain a greater number of' cigarettes. In other words, the machine will pay out at all times the number of -cigarettes for the amount of money which has been deposited therein.

vWhen the machine has dispensed the required number of cigarettes and the lever |69 has been released it will move upwardly whereby the nger |29 will be lowered permitting the crank arm I2| to be lowered which. is connected with the release rod |22 so that the pawls |36 will be dropped into engagement with the notches |39 ofv the discs |38 and further operation of the machine will be prevented until another nickel or coin of the proper denomination is deposited in the machine.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 13 it will be seen that one tooth is omitted from the wheel 2| 4, as shownat 258. This space is engaged by the free end 2|2 of the pawl 2|0 when the zero yindication on the dial EIS is at the window 222 of the casing if At this time a lug 262 projecting inwardly from the casing 68 is engaged by alug 253 on the wheel 2id. The pawl may be reciprocated but will not engage a tooth and thus prevent further rotation ofthe wheel and the When a fresh carton of cigarettes or a newmagazine lled with some article is placed inthe machine, the dials will have to be reset so vthat the free end 2|2 of the pawl 2|@ will be in engagement with the tooth indicated by the numeral 25| and the dial will again indicate the cigarettes which are being dispensed.

The dials are reset by the spring Sil?) which areV placed under tension when the wheels 2 I4 are rotated step-by-step by the operation of the pawls 2|ll. YThe pawls 2li) and 2H are manually released so that the springs which have been under tension by the rotation of the wheels will return the dials to their initial positions when the pawls have been released.

The pawl 2|`| is maintained in operative position by the spring arm 220 which places the pawl into engagement with the teeth 2i3.

The member 2l@ is oscillated each time a handle TI is rocked because the lower end of each member 2 i Il is pivotally connected at 261 with one of the rocking members 8) shown in Figs. 2 and 8. The oscillation of any of the members 2| will cause the pawl 2I2 at the outer free end of the member 2|@ to force the wheel 2M one step whereby the free end of the pawl 2H will ride over the oncoming tooth and will engage said tooth to maintain the wheel against rotation by the spring 389.

It is to be understood that while cigarettes ai'e shown as being dispensed from the present machine, that variations in the size of the machine may be made to dispense cigars, or any other article, and the coin-controlled mechanism can be so constructed that it will operate only by the insertion of the coin of the proper denomination to obtain the article. -In other words, if cigars are dispensed from the machine, a deposit of a nickel at the left hand side or" the machine will dispense one cigar, while tho deposit of a quarter in the slot IM will permit the operator to obtain five cigars or three cigars as the case may be.

I claim:

1. A vending machine comprising a frame, a table carried by the frame and provided with an opening through which articles are to be dispensed, a closure for the opening for supporting a column of articles over the opening, means for rocking the closure to discharge articles, a locking means for the closure away from the opening, means for releasing the locking means, means pivotally mounted on the rocking means for the closure and adapted to be moved between the lowermost pair of articles, a spring for urging the pivoted means across the opening above the rocking means, and a stop for restraining the movement of the pivoted means when said means is in operative position between the lowermost pair of articles before the closure has entirely moved away from the opening.

2. A vending machine comprising a frame, a rockable means for supporting a column of articles, means for actuating the rockable means to discharge articles, means controlling the release of the articles one by one from the column, a locking means for the rockable means, means for releasing the locking means, means actuated by the rockable means for causingr release of a predetermined number of articles from the column upon a single release of the locking means, and means rendering the locking means operative after a predetermined number of articles have been dispensed.

3. A vending machine comprising a frame, a table carried by the frame and provided with a plurality of openings through which articles are to be dispensed, a closure for each opening for supporting a column of articles, means for rocking each closure individually to discharge articles, a locking means for all of the rocking means. means for releasing the locking means for all of the rocking means simultaneously, a removable magazine associated with each opening in the table, an additional retaining means for each rocking means, and means on each magazine engageable with the last mentioned retaining means when said magazine is inserted into the vending machine for causing release of the retaining means.

table carried by the frame and provided with an opening through which articles are to be dispensed, a closure for the opening supporting a column of articles, means for rocking the closure to discharge articles, a locking means for the closure, means for releasing the locking means, the table having a notch adjacent the opening, a swingable latch adjacent the notch and engaging said notch and the rocking means to prevent actuation of the rocking means, and a magazine insertible into the vending machine and provided with a lip for forcing the latch to an inoperative position to release the rocking means- 5. A vending machine comprising a frame, a table carried by the frame and provided with a plurality of openings through which articles are to be dispensed, a closure for each opening supporting a column of articles, means for rocking each closure individually to discharge articles, a locking means for the closures, means for releasing the locking means for all of the rocking means simultaneously, a removable magazine associated With each opening in the table, an additional retaining means for each rocking means, means on each magazine engageable with the adjacently disposed' retaining means when said magazine is inserted into the vending machine for causing the release of the additional retaining means, and means for placing simultaneously all of the movable locking means in an inoperative position.

6. A vending machine comprising a frame, a table carried by the frame and provided with a plurality of openings through which articles are to be dispensed, a closure for each opening supporting a column of articles, means for rocking each closure individually to discharge articles, a locking means for the closures, means for releasing the locking means for all of the rocking means simultaneously, a removable magazine associated with each opening in the table, an additional retaining means for each rocking means, means on each magazine engageable with the adjacently disposed retaining means when said magazine is inserted into the vending machine for causing release of the additional retaining means, a crank in position to engage all of the retaining means, and means for operating the crank to release all of the retaining means simultaneously.

7. A vending machine comprising a magazine for housing a column of articles, a rockable means for supporting the column of articles, means for actuating the rockable means for discharging an article from the magazine, means for retaining the remainder of the articles in the column against release when the loWermost article is being discharged, a ratchet wheel, a spring tending to revolve the Wheel in one direction, a reciprocating pawl adapted to rotate the Wheel in the opposite direction step-by-step, means operated by the rockable means for causing reciprocation of the pawl and rotation of the Wheel, a gravity-actuated locking means retainingi the rocking means against movement, manually operated oscillating means for moving the locking means to an inoperative position, and means operated by the Wheel for causing the oscillating means and locking means to return to normal position.

8. A vending machine comprising a magazine housing va column of articles, a rockable means sup-porting the coltunn of articles, means for actuating the rockable means for discharging an article from the magazine, means retaining the remainder of the articles in the column against release when the lowermost article is being discharged, a rotatable Wheel, a spring tending to revolve the Wheel in one direction, a reciprocat- V ing pawl adapted to rotate the wheel in the opposite direction step-by-step, means operated by the rockable means for causing reciprocation of the paWl and rotation of the Wheel, a locking means holding the rockable means against movement, means for releasing the locking means and retaining the locking means inY an inoperative position, means for retaining the releasing means against movement when the locking means is in an inoperative position, and means actuated by the rotated Wheel for releasing the retaining means after a number of articles is discharged from the magazine.

9. A vending machine comprising a magazine for housing a column of articles, rockable means supporting the column of articles, means for actuating the rockable means for discharging an article` from the magazine, means for retaining the remainder of the articles in the column against release when the lowermost article is being discharged, a rotatable Wheel, a spring tending to revolve the Wheel in one direction, a reciprocating paWl adapted to rotate the Wheel in the opposite direction step-by-step, means operated by the rockable means for causing reciprocation of the paWl and rotation of the Wheel, a locking means holding the rockable means against movement, means for releasing the looking means and retaining the locking means in an inoperative position, means for retaining the releasing means against movement When the locking means is in an inoperative position, means actuated by the rotated Wheel for releasing the retaining means after a number of articles is discharged from the magazine, and an adjustable stop limiting the angle of reverse rotation of the Wheel by the spring for determining the number of articles to be dispensed from the machine.

10. A vending machine comprising a frame, a table carried by the frame and provided with an opening, a closure for supporting a column of articles over the opening, means rocking the closure for discharging articles, a locking means for the closure, means for releasing the locking means, a finger pivotally mounted on the rocking means for the closure and adapted to be moved across the opening when the rocking means is moved, a spring on the rocking means tending to Vmove the finger across the opening, a stop engageable with the finger and restraining the nger from further movement after it has been placed in an operative position over the opening and after the closure has moved from the opening, said finger adapted to retain the column of articles against release when the lowermost article is being dispensed.

WILLIAM A. HARRIS. 

